Brougham Park

Chapter 16

The dinner party concluded on a note of triumph for Mrs. Dawson, her heart brimming with joy. Her meticulous planning, from the carefully selected cuisine to the elegant floral decorations, had proven successful. The admiration she received from her sister and other guests swelled her heart with pride, a recognition of her efforts and the warmth of their shared company.

One highlight that stood out amidst the festivities was Mr. Crew's request to dance with her. As the hostess, the honour was hers, and the delight she felt was evident in the sparkle of her eyes and the grace with which she took to the dance floor, even though she initially felt a hint of shyness and hesitation about dancing at her age of five and forty.

In parallel, Samantha and Kitty reveled in the success of the evening. Their choice of attire and appearance had garnered praise, adding to their sense of accomplishment. They were not hesitant to extend their compliments to their fellow young ladies - Celia, Maria, and Eleanor. The evening had been a memorable one for every single person that attended it.

As everyone retired to their own rooms after everyone had left, Samantha directed her steps toward her room where Mary awaited to help her undress into her nightgown. As Samantha laid on her bed, the events of the day began to come before her eyes, reminding her of every little detail that happened.

Most of the guests had praised the choice of food for the evening and the dining room had been filled with the happy chatter of the guests assembled there. Celia and Samantha, having spent so much time together in the past week, found themselves in a comfortable companionship of shared glances and knowing smiles. There was nothing new they could speak about. It was during one of these companionable silences that Mr. Harris, seemingly undeterred by the lack of a fresh topic, endeavoured to initiate a conversation with Samantha.

"Miss Dawson, I hope you do not mind my intrusion. May I ask you something?" he began.

"Mr Harris. What is it that you wish to know?"

"I am very well aware that you are fond of reading and that you take excellent care of your library. I would greatly appreciate your advice on organising a library. You see, I am planning to rearrange the library at the Manor but I do not know how to do it in such a manner that it would be more organised, just like yours." Mr Harris explained.

"Certainly, Mr. Harris. Organising a library can be quite manageable. You could opt to arrange the books by genre, title, or even by colour and size. In my case, my great grandfather left us with an abundance of bookshelves, which was a head start. I began by sorting books into genres. For practicality, non-fiction works like history and law are arranged alphabetically. As for my favourite section – fiction, poetry, and novels – I prefer arranging them by colour and size. It adds a certain charm to the shelves, especially since I'm the only one who often indulges in them." Samantha's explanation was accompanied by a warm smile. She had somehow forgotten the recent situation where Mr Harris had slighted Kitty and her by not inviting them both to a dinner party that he had hosted.

After the sumptuous dinner concluded, the ladies gracefully withdrew to the drawing room, their laughter and conversations carrying through the air. Meanwhile, the gentlemen lingered at the dining table, sharing anecdotes over glasses of port. As the last drops of the rich liquid were savoured, the men rejoined the ladies in the drawing room.

Among the chatter and warm camaraderie, a suggestion floated into the air - the prospect of music and dance to continue the evening's delight. The idea was met with enthusiastic approval, the collective energy of the guests undiminished by the day's events.

With a shared excitement, they transitioned to the music room. This particular chamber held a distinct charm, distinguished from the other spaces. The walls and columns bore a coat of pristine white, providing a crisp canvas against which the room's focal points stood out. The draperies, a soft powder blue, cascaded elegantly, filling the room with an air of serenity and tranquillity that contrasted the vibrancy of the evening.